Automobile bumper



oct. so, 192s.

G. W. VEALE AUTOMOBILE BUMPER Filed Jan. 16. 1928 n Si Jwmtot M N mln 1 W 1 Mii n lll IIIL m r l l -.Wmul |Wil||5 IWJHMIHM.. mw w h N -mml NQ Il, r3 mw n WQ mw MOZMHS Patented Oct. 30, 192.8.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. VEALE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSAIGNOR TO THE EATON AXLE & SPRING COMPANY, oFOLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

AUTOMOBILE BUMPER.

Application led January 16,. 1928. Serial No. 247,109.

This invention relates to automobile bumpers and more particularly to clamping devices whereby a plurality of front or lmpact bars are secured to a rear or supportlng bar.

It is one of the objects of the invention to I provide a clamping device that will be highly ornamental in appearance, relatively inex,

l which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bumper embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation. of the main part of my improved clamping device;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevatlon thereof;

Fig. 5 is a sideelevation thereof with certain parts broken away and other parts shown in section; and

Fig.' 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Figs. 2 and 4. l

Referring to the drawings, 10 and 11 indlcate a pair of vertically spaced impact bars which may be transversely curved, as shown in Fig. 6. The particular configuration of the bars 10 and 11 is immaterial, and the arrangement for connecting the ends thereof is also immaterial, but I have shown the ends as secured in the members 12 which constitute the V"outer ends of the bumper. The rear or supporting bar is indicated at 13, and 1n the construction illustrated, the ends of this bar are provided with return bends so `that the ends 14 and- 15 are adapted to engage the adjacent edges of the bars 10 and 11, as best shown in Fig. 6. I

The clamping device for securing the ends 14 and 15 to the impact bars 10 and 11 ,consists of a vertically extending member 16, which is preferably stamped from sheetmetal and, in front eleva-tion, is of rectangular shape, as shown in Fig. 3. For ornamental ipurposes, primarily, the member. 16 is curved lon itudinally, as shown in Flgs. 5 and 6, the our corners of the member being rounded-to enhance the beauty of the device.

The member 16 is provided with flanges 17 and 18 along its longitudinal edges and flanges 19 and 20 along its transverse edges, thus forming a structure the rear side of which is hollow. The anges 17 and 18 are provided with edge depressions 21 and 22 which are adapted to engage the front or impact faces of the bars 10 and 11, these depressions, preferably,' conforming to the shape of these impact faces.

Each of the flanges 17 and 18 is provided with an integral extension, one being indicated at 23 and the other at 24, these extensions being bent at right angles to the planes of the fianges and overlying the space between the fianges. Each of the extensions 23 and 24 has lugs or tangs 25 on its upper and lower edges. A nut 26 is arranged within the member 16 and abuts against the inner faces of the extensions 23 and 24 and. is secured thereon by means of the lugs or tangs 25, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, these lugs or tangs being bent to engage the upper and lower edges of the nut. In order to facilitate the securing of the nut 26, the upper and lower edges thereof'are preferably beveled .although the invention is, obviously, not limited to this particular arrangement.

-The length of the nut 26 should approximate the distance between the flanges 17 and 18 so that the nut will be thereby prevented from shifting, and ,thus the threaded opening 27 will be maintained at the center ofV the member 16. i

The bars 10, 11 and 13 are secured together by placing the members 16 against the impact faces of the bars 10 and 11 and then inserting the screws 28 through suitable openings therefor-in the ends 14 and 15-and turning these screws in the nuts 26 until the parts are drawn tightly together. Lock washers 29 may be arranged under the heads of the screws 28 for the purpose of preventing them from loosening.

While I havel illustrated and described what I now consider to be the preferred form of my invention, it is apparentthat changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the 'spirit of the invention as it is dened inthe appended claims. f

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

rality of spaced impact bars, a supporting bar, and means for securing said bars together comprising a stamped sheet-metal member A"arranged on the impact-receiving faces of said impact bars and having a pair of marginal flanges engaging said faces, said flanges each having an extension overlying the space between the flanges, a nut arranged in said member and engaging said extensionsv and secured thereto, and a clamping screw cooperating with said nut.

2. In bumpers, the combination of a plurality of spaced impact bars, a supporting bar, and means forl securing said bars together comprising a stamped sheet-metal member larranged on the'impa-ct-receiving faces of said impact bars and having a pair of marginal flanges engaging said faces, said flanges each having an extension overlying the space between the flanges, a nut arranged in said member and engaging said extensions, lugs on said extensions for securing said nut thereto, and a clamping screw cooperating with said nut.

3. In bumpers, the combination of a plurality of spaced impact bars having transversely curved impact faces, a supporting bar, and means for securing said bars t0- gcther comprising a stamped sheet-metal member provided with a` pair of opposite marginal flanges having depressions in their edges forming seats for said impact faces, each of said flanges having an extension between said impact bars and overlying the space between said flanges, a nut arranged in said member and engaging said extensions, means for securing said nut to said extensions, and a clamping screw cooperating with said nut.

4. In bumpers, the combination of a plurality of spaced impact bars having transversely curved impact faces, a supporting bar, and means for securing said bars together comprising a stamped sheet-metal member provided with a pair of opposite .marginal flanges having depressions in their edges forming seats for said impact'faces, each of said flanges having an extension between said impact bars and overlying the space between said flanges, a nut arranged in said member and engaging said extensions, lugs on said extensions bent around said nut to secure it to said extensions, and a clamping screw cooperating with said nut.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a clamping device comprising a stamped sheetmetal member provided with a pair of marginal flanges each of which has an extension projecting between said flanges, a nut on the interior of said member engaging said extensions, and means for securing said nut to said extensions.

6. As a new article 0f manufacture, a clamping device comprising a stamped sheetmetal member provided with a pair of marginal flanges, each of which has an extension projecting between said flanges, a nut on the interior of' said member engaging said extensions, and lugs on said extensions bent around said nut to secure it to said extensions.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

GEORGE W. VEALE. 

